Mana Pools

The focal point of any safari in Mana Pools National Park is the magical Zambezi River - its islands, the surrounding flood plains and the gorgeous forests of mahogany, wild fig, ebony and baobab trees on its floodplains.

Mana Pools is famous for its large numbers of elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and eland. They concentrate along the river when the inland waterholes dry up, especially in the dry winter months of June to October. Leopard and lion are here, but not seen as regularly.

This World Heritage Site is one of the least developed national parks in Zimbabwe. Indeed this overwhelming sense of wilderness offers much of the attraction, alongside its wildlife.

Earlier on in the dry season there is a lot of surface water. That means less predator activity around the safari camps.

This is the ideal time for walking safaris. As you can get close to the wildlife in an uncontrived way. The Mana Pools National Park has also been synonymous with canoeing safaris for many years. Choose between a morning kayak activity at a riverside camp, or taking a multi-day canoe trip with an experienced and qualified river guide.

It is also a known birding spot. The carmine bee-eaters are an especially enticing sight. (Though good luck trying to photograph them in motion!)